MICHAEL LAUDRUP has said he could not stand in the way of Danny Graham's £5m deadline day move to Sunderland – and claimed he is not worried by the lack of cover the striker's exit leaves his Swans side with.

MICHAEL LAUDRUP has said he could not stand in the way of Danny Graham's £5m deadline day move to Sunderland – and claimed he is not worried by the lack of cover the striker's exit leaves his Swans side with.

Swansea City boss Laudrup insisted Graham's lack of games and desperation to return to his native North East meant he had to allow the 27-year-old to move on in the final day of the transfer window.

Laudrup admitted he did attempt to land a loan replacement in the closing stages of deadline day, confirming a bid for a QPR player – believed to be Jamie Mackie as revealed by WalesOnline yesterday – and and attempt to land Sevilla's Manu del Moral fell at the last.

But he insisted he had no interest in making a panic or permanent signing, playing down the impact the loss of seven-goal Graham will have as well as the failure to replace him.

Graham had long agitated for a move away from the Liberty Stadium, finally getting his way yesterday when he signed a three-and-a-half year contract at the Stadium of Light.

And, speaking ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash at West Ham, Laudrup said: “It wasn't just that Danny was unhappy but there was the combination of going elsewhere to play and especially to go back home was a desire. It was not just to leave here because there were other offers, but to go home.

“So as a manager you have to listen because it is not just football but personal. I told him it was OK and I understood, but he had to understand there was economic side. But offer from Sunderland was good in the end, we as a club were happy and that combination made it clear it was a decision we had to leave him go.

“You can always say why didn't you buy anyone, but first of all the players I want are not possible to sign in January. Perhaps they could have been but only for ridiculous amount of money and the way we do things here is not paying £9m, £10m or even £11m for a player.

“We could have said no letting Danny go but that would have been huge mistake in a lot of ways, especially human side because he could have stayed until the summer and come in and seen a new face and find himself as the third striker. From my part right thing to let him go.

“It gave us a problem because we did not want to buy anyone so it was only on loan. We tried a couple of things.”

Believed to be speaking about Spain international Manu, Laudrup said: “One of them was quite advanced but suddenly the president of the other club changed the rules and it wasn't possible to have a loan only a permanent deal.

“You can always press the panic button just to bring someone in, but I don't think that was the case here. I still believe I have options in squad. Danny is a good player, but remember he was not playing regularly. I still think inside the team - even with injuries - we have possibilities to have quite competitive team.”

On the link with QPR players – where excessive loan fees and the Loftus Road club's failure to land a new striker of their own saw bids fall down – Laudrup said: “They had some players who could have been offensive (option) if could have had one loan would have been OK, but if not it was also OK.”

Laudrup cited the fact there is only 15 games to cope with any issues over striker shortage, playing up the chances for Itay Shechter and Luke Moore to impress in Graham's absence but also underlining the importance of top scorer Michu.

Laudrup insisted his focus is now on landing players for the summer, for which work will begin immediately if not having already started, not to mention the trip to Upton Park.

But he will be without goalkeeper Michel Vorm once more who has not recovered from his knee strain, Gerhard Tremmel set to deputise once more.

Meanwhile, Laudrup admitted sympathies towards Michu for failing to make Vincent del Bosque's Spain squad as had been previously indicated.

He said: “We talking about a team that can allow themselves to leave a layer like Mata out of the 22. That says everything. It would have been nice because he's had a fantastic season but he has one small problem - he has a Spanish passport.”

WalesOnline is part of Media Wales, publisher of the Western Mail, South Wales Echo, Wales on Sunday and the seven Celtic weekly titles, offering you unique access to our audience across Wales online and in print.